Chocola, Donnelly clash on Medicare drug program

Democratic challenger would waive penalty for late sign-up.

Democratic challenger would waive penalty for late sign-up.

May 19, 2006|JAMES WENSITS Tribune Political Writer

SOUTH BEND -- Add the Medicare Part D prescription drug program to the list of things that U.S. Rep. Chris Chocola, R-2nd, and Democratic challenger Joe Donnelly don't agree on. Donnelly, a Granger Democrat, said that he has called on Congress to waive penalties for those seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries who did not sign up for the program by the May 15 deadline. "The Medicare Part D program has been confusing and difficult for many seniors to understand," Donnelly said. Asked if he would agree to such a waiver, Chocola said in response that so far, in the 2nd District, there has been a 93 percent sign-up rate for the program and that low-income recipients already are exempt from the penalty. The next step, Chocola said, is to examine the 7 percent who didn't sign up, determine why, "and then make a decision based on facts." According to Chocola spokesman Brooks Kochvar, the national sign-up rate is expected to be 90 percent. Chocola also lambasted Donnelly's past criticism of the program. "If Joe Donnelly had his way, we wouldn't have a prescription drug benefit," Chocola said. Noting that Donnelly has criticized his vote for the plan, Chocola said that Donnelly "cannot feasibly deny he would have voted against it." Now, Chocola said, Donnelly is saying that people "should have a longer time to sign up for a benefit he never would have given them a chance to have." Starting with their 2004 campaign, Donnelly has been critical of the drug program because it did not allow the government to negotiate the price of drugs with pharmaceutical companies. Donnelly reiterated that position Thursday, saying if he is elected to Congress, he will seek to revamp the program so that the government can negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies. Donnelly disagreed with Chocola's assessment of his position, saying that he would in fact have voted in favor of the drug program, but would then have worked for a provision to allow negotiation for drug prices so as to obtain a lower price both for the government and seniors. The monthly penalty was added to the legislation to encourage people to sign up at the start rather then wait until they had health problems and needed the coverage before enrolling. As things stand, Donnelly said, seniors who choose a plan after May 15 will be penalized by a 1 percent increase in their premium for each month of delay. "We should not penalize those who have given so much to this country," Donnelly said. "Instead, we should make it as easy as possible for our seniors to enroll in the plan and avoid burdening them with sign-up penalties. We help our seniors and harm no one by extending this opportunity." The enrollment period began Nov. 15. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, beneficiary premiums are now expected to average $25 a month, down from the $37 per month premium projected last July. That would put the penalty at 25 cents a month. Donnelly said it is not his intent to waive the penalty indefinitely, but he believes it should be waived at least until the end of the year. "Right here, at the beginning, it's confusing," said Donnelly, adding that it is his intent to provide "a bigger window" for seniors to enroll in the program.Staff writer James Wensits: jwensits@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6353